The media personality’s trouble began with a selfie posted to Instagram in mid-June, accompanied by the caption: “Had ordered this suit from a Saville Row [sic] tailor over a year ago. Think I’m gonna need to take it in a little … #Victory #EyesOnThePrize #AnythingIsPossible #fitness #transformation #thinspiration.”

The hashtag #thinspiration has been co-opted by pro-bulimia and pro-anorexia groups, something Richman apparently did not know. Users called him out for this, some more aggressively than others, and Richman responded that he was the victim of “trolling.” In a series of replies, Richman called one user a “cunt” and suggested that another user should commit suicide. “Seriously - grab a razor blade & draw a bath. I doubt anyone will miss you,” he wrote to one user, then went after another.

“oh eat a bag of shit dummy. No apology is coming. If it inspires someone to attain a healthier, thinner body - then that’s what it was meant to do. Only fuckup it seems was your Dad’s choice to go without a condom.”

After several dozen messages, Richman deleted his posts and issued apologies on Instagram and Twitter, which were also deleted. This morning, perhaps channeling Paula Deen, he released a statement to Good Morning America: “I’ve long struggled with my body image and have worked very hard to achieve a healthy weight. I’m incredibly sorry to everyone I’ve hurt.”